We examine the solution
structures in a mixed surfactant system
of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and
N
,
N
-dimethyldodecylamine
N
-oxide (DDAO) in water, on
both sides of the two-phase boundary, employing dynamic light scattering,
small-angle neutron scattering, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
The precipitate phase boundary was accessed by lowering pH to 8, from
its floating pH 9.5 value, and was experimentally approached from
the monomeric and micellar regions in three ways: at fixed DDAO or
SDS concentrations and at a fixed (70:30) SDS:DDAO molar ratio. We
characterize the size, shape, and interactions of micelles, which
elongate approaching the boundary, leading to the formation of disk-like
aggregates within the biphasic region, coexisting with micelles and
monomers. Our data, from both monomeric and micellar solutions, indicate
that the two phase structures formed are largely pathway-independent,
with dimensions influenced by both pH and mixed surfactant composition.
Precipitation occurs at intermediate stoichiometries with a similar
SDS:DDAO ratio, whereas asymmetric stoichiometries form a re-entrant
transition, returning to the mixed micelle phase. Overall, our findings
demonstrate the effect of stoichiometry and solution pH on the synergistic
interaction of mixed surfactants and their impact on phase equilibrium
and associated micellar and two-phase structures.